The FAR Overhaul: Cutting Red Tape or Losing the Point?

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, procurement law expert, Alan Chvotkin, partner at Centre Law Group, joins the program to unpack the ongoing overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). From its original goal in 1984—to create a single, uniform, government-wide standard for buying goods and services—to today’s piecemeal reforms, Alan explains what’s been fixed, what’s been lost, and what still needs attention. 

He highlights the FAR Council’s recent rule change on System for Award Management (SAM) registration, which now requires contractors to be registered only at the time of offer submission and award—an important shift that reduces administrative headaches for agencies and vendors alike. Alan also examines the bigger picture: how the FAR has grown unwieldy over time, why deviations across agencies threaten consistency, and what risks come with streamlining too far. 

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